1829. ] a Legend of London. 279 
like to have some concern in the business. They found the widow by 
the bed-side of her departed husband: she not only did not fly from, 
but courted investigation, and accordingly the body was investigated, 
but not the slightest sign of violence was found upon it; no trace of 
steel or poison—all was as right and as unaccountable as it ought to 
have been. There were some present who pretended to a great know- 
ledge of human nature, and who strictly watched Mrs. Alice during 
the whole transaction, and their evidence went still further to clear her 
from the imputation it was sought to affix upon her: for they said her 
conduct was so thoroughly natural—she seemed struggling between 
indignation at the charge brought against her, and grief for the cause 
thereof ; and yet there was no overacting in her grief, it seemed just 
what she would be likely to feel for the loss of such a husband, and to 
be rather sorrow for the spell that appeared to be upon her, than for the 
man himself. The sheriff and his friends therefore, whatever they 
might have thought or wished, found themselves forced to declare her 
guiltless ; and after partaking of a slight refection, consisting of boiled 
beef, suet puddings, sausages and ale, left the widow to her solitude. 
His declaration of her guiltlessness was soon known among her neigh- 
bours, almost all of whom without any delay or difficulty returned to 
their former good opinion of her, greatly pitymg her for the trouble she 
had been put to, and much wondering how folks could be so spiteful as 
tell such wicked stories. In a few days orders were given for the burial 
of the late Master Shard in Mrs. Alice’s family vault, which was in 
St. Michael’s church, and which vault, though one of considerable 
_ extent, Mrs. Alice seemed in a fair way of filling choak full with her 
husbands. 
St. Michael’s church stood at the period of this tale, and for aught 
the teller knows to the contrary, stands to this day at the eastern end of 
Cornhill, and about midway between this church and Mrs. Alice’s house 
there was a pot-house or tavern, known by the sign of the “ Sevenne 
Starres:” in the tap-room of this tavern, upon the afternoon when 
Master Shard was to be carried to his long home, there was assembled 
a very merry company of some dozen worthy citizens, who were getting 
full of good things and gratitude towards the giver of the feast, Master 
Martyn Lessomour, a young merchant, whose safe return from a long 
and successful voyage in the Mediterranean they were met to celebrate. 
Master Lessomour was not yet thirty, though hard upon it; tall, 
strongly and well-built ; his face was handsome and manly, and his 
large blue eyes looked like mirrors of his frank heart ; his complexion 
was naturally fair, but exposure to sun and storm had given it a healthy 
tan, as they had also yet more bleached his light hair, which he wore 
long and curling down his neck and shoulders ; in short, he was altogether 
a comely young man to look upon, and the rogue knew it too, for it was 
particularly observed of him that his carriage, which was at all times 
free and easy, would assume a little bit of a swagger when he either 
met in the streets, or passed under windows where were sitting any 
young and pretty city damsels. In his merry moods he was playful as a 
month-old kitten, as very a galliard as the best among them ; but when 
business required it, he was as staid and sober as if an idle jest or an 
extra cup of canary had never passed his lips, so that he was equally 
well thought of among the grave and the gay ; some of the oldest and 
wealthiest of the citizens would nod to him in passing, and some even 
